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 water structure on the campus of the Mesa Arts Center is undergoing a $1.7 million reconstruction.

The Museum and Cultural Arts Advisory board last month got an update on the project involving The Arroyo, which had been losing significant amounts of water until it was turned off in 2018.

The Arroyo was designed to mimic a flash desert flood but Illya Riske, assistant director of the city Department of Arts and Culture, said it needs a complete renovation. 

The Arroyo, located near the front of the Mesa Arts Campus, was supposed to just mimic a flash flood but the water was kept running continuously for years.

But “in 2018, we noticed The Arroyo was losing significant amounts of water,” said Riske, explaining the constant running of the water caused significant damage.

“Several of the pipes that run to plumb everything and run the water from the end of The Arroyo to the top have been crushed and destroyed underneath 8 feet of concrete,” she said.

The board decided last August to restore the structure and Riske outlined the project’s timeline at the board’s meeting last month.

She said that outreach will continue through March and that design ideas will continue into October, when a request for proposals could be issued. Construction will take till about October 2025, she said.

Board member Melvin Van Vorst expressed concerns about how the construction would impact MAC visitors.

“The site is close to the entrance; how will that impact people as they walk in?” he asked.

He was told the work will force a shutdown of The Shadow Walk, a gathering place for visitors that is located near the Arroyo.

“These pumps are 18 or 19 years old,” said Riske, “so they are in need of repair. The hope is it’ll be less intrusive than a complete rebuild.”

Riske explained the overall goal of these repairs would not only be to significantly reduce the amount of water being used, but also extend the Arroyo’s longevity.

Karen Rolston, another board member, raised concerns about the overall integrity of the design to The Arroyo and any changes that may be seen.

Riske said while the work will be substantial her office will make sure to keep the board informed about all aspects of the project.   

“When we get to that point we will absolutely communicate with this group and the community to say, ‘here’s what our proposal is, here’s why we think this is the right path forward,” Riske told the board.